Firing mechanism for gun perforators



Dec. 14, 1943. L'sP cER 2,336,812

- FIRING MECHANISM FOR GUN PERFORATORS Filed oct 12. 1942 F102 7 INVENTOR firing mechanism is inoperative unless sub-- the accompanying est tes as. is, i943 sr ra FIRING 'MEonANrsM ron' arm f raarom'roas Lloyd Spencer, Les Ang Lane-Wells Company,

corporation of Delaware eles, Califi, assignor to Los- Angeles, Calm, a

jAppiication October 12, ,1942, Serial No. 461,817 13 Claims. (Cl.- 164-435) 1 My invention relates to firing mechanismsfor gun perfor'ators, and among the objects of my invention are: 1 .-First. to provide a firing mechanism for gun perforators which forms a connecting head between a cable or wire line anda gun perforator and which is actuated by a tubular go-devil dropped down the cable or wire line;

Second, to provide a firingmechanisrn for gun perforators which is inherently safe in that the merged in a liquid and, further, becomes inoperative once the gun perforator is raised in the well bore whether submerged or not;

Third, to provide a firing mechanism for gun perioratorswhich isparticularly adapted for attachment to a single strand wire line, the firing mechanism incorporating a novel clamp means .ior such wireline; and

Fourtdjtcprcvide a firing mechanism which with the ignition passage G2. The. upper end of the cartridge 1 which may be a conventional cartridge bore receives a blank rifle or pistol.

cartridge containing the conventional detonator.

The cable head body 6 is provided with a socket 8 which receives the stem 3. Continuing upwardly from the socket 8 is a chamber 9 of smaller diameter forming a shoulder H). A firing pin holder ll is clamped between the shoulder Ill and the upper endof the stem'3. The holder is in the form of a short cylinder and is provided is adapted for use in conjunction with the gun tions, Serial No. 455,259 filed August 18, 1942, and Serial No. @9361 filed September 23, 1942'. With the above and other objects in view, as may-appear hereinafter, reference-is directed to drawing, in which: Figure 1 is an elevational view of my firing mechanism shown attached to a wire line and oericrator disclosed in my copending applicato a gun periorator, and showing also a go-devil before it engages the firing mechanism;

Figure. 2 is. an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of my firing mechanism taken through 2-2 ofl igure1;and-.

Figures 3, 5 and 6 are transverse sectional views --thereoi taken through 3-3, M, 8-5

' and 5-3, respectively, of Figure 2.

with a central opening which receives a small firing pin it. Interposed between the holder and the upper end of the stem 8 is a sealing plate l3 which closes the upper end of the cartridge bore 6 toexclude water therefrom. The plate is an eccentrically located longitudinally extending firing plunger bore it which extends upwardly through the cable head body to the upper end thereof and receives a firing plunger ll, which is initially held in an upper position by means of a small shear pin l8. In this position the upper The gun perforate: G with which my firing mechanism is intended to be used may take the term of the disclosures in the aforementioned perforatcr may be employed which is provided with a threaded upper'end Gi and an ignition passage G3 intersecting the upper end of the periorator. Anadaptor'i forms mechanism. The adaptor isprovided with a socket 2 at its lower end which screw-threads to the upper end of the gun-periorator and is provided with a. stem 3 which screw-threads to the lower end of my firing I copending patent application, or any type of gun 1 end of'the firing plunger projects above'thecable head body. Immediately below the normal or upper position of the plunger the firing plunger bore it is intersected by'a filler port l9. .Immediately above the lower end of the chamber ,9 there are provided laterally extending drain ports 28.

The lowerportion oi the cable head body is preferably reduced. in diameter and receives a slidable collar 2i having an internal channel in which is fitted a seal'ring 22 which in its normal or upper position covers the drain ports 20, the

combined areas of which are preferably in excess or the area or the piston 17. It is desirable that the filler -port under such conditions be exposed doable head body 4.- A seal is effected between the upper end of the gun perforator and the inner end of the socket 2 by means of a gasket t5. Thejstem 3 is provided with a longitudinally extending cartridge bore 8 which communicates to well fluid. Sonsequently, a channel 22a and port 23, or other means, may be provided at the upper. end of the collar 2| to provide access. The

channel 22d may be utilized to receive a ball clutch 24 set in the body member and which normally restrains the collar in its upper. position. The collar 2! is provided withupwardly diverging cage fingers 25; which may be formed of soft wire. These fingers move ment of the gun and $211 in a well a casing when the -cing the collar ently yield-able casing, but catch a firing mechanism is l5 2% downwardly; they are that they will double continued upward move nism without placing supporting cable or wire he.

The upper end or" c notched to form a through which the firing plm" Said portion forms ver cal diametrically extending wall in which is formed a wire groove adapted to receive a wire line W, in this case shown as a single conductor steel Wire. The upper portion of vertical Wall or face 27 of the semi cylindrical portion 25 is covered by a clamp block 22 which is complementary thereto and is provided with a downwardly extending stem or tongue'i il which is provided with a groove not only on its inner side adjacent the vertical wall 2?, but also at its lower and outer side, the lower end of the tongue being rounded so that the wire be bent therearound as shown in Figure 2. The tongue receives a clamp member 32 which is likewise complementary. The clamp block and clamp member are secured to the semi-cylindrical portion by bolts 33 extending on opposite sides of the wire line and the firing plunger. The clamp block may be provided with a slot continuing from the groove in the tongue 3i; for the purpose of ac commcdating the free end of the wire W.

The upper end of the firing plunger ii is p0- sitioned so that it may be engaged by the lower end of a go-devil which is tubular so that it may be dropped down the wire line.

Operation of my firing mechanism as follows: When the firing mechanism is lowered with a gun perforator into an oil well the parts are in the position shown in Figure 2. As soon as the firing mechanism submerges in the liquid contained in the well the liquid fills in the chamher El through the port When the desired level is reached the go-devil is dropped and strikes the firing plunger ll, shearing the pin i As soon as the plunger descends far enougl'i bore it extends.

e plunger is t her 5 to t tone. co ieuer ports J5 om under the and the ring id from the cl unhol- 9. .13 1661133115111 can not and consequent ccidentally unless subhe I r the gun has been fed the first upward movement causes tl collar to assume it lowr position, indicated by dULLCd lines in Figure 2, y reason of ement of the fin ers with ng, particularly The position for they tend to diss" would otherwise be transrntited to from the firing plunger.

If it is desired to fire the gun .in a dry well, the chamber 9 and connecting openings may be filled with liquid, or with a semi-solid such grease.

There is little danger of accidental engagement of the firing plunger during descent of the gun perforator; however, the go-devil sometimes hangs up on the supporting member due to a dog leg or bend in the casing then during up ward movement of the gun perforator the go devil may free itself and fall. In the event of the latter, more common occurrence, the firing mechanism is disarmed for once the forator is raised'in the well bore the drain ports 20 are uncovered and-the contents of the 6 18.111 no longer function to transmiten appreciable shock from the firing plunger ll to the firing pin '82, but instead passes freely out of the drain ports 20 and upwardly to fill previously occupied bythe plunger ll. This transfer of change in the total volume of rounding the cable head; drostatlc pressure due to the hid in wine gun is submerged has no effect. If, asit tended, the total area of the holes 55 is l tively large in comparison witlrthe area of i plunger ll there is very little 'resistanceofiere to the displacement of the liquid from the bottom to the top of the plunger ll, therefore there is practically no force available to actuate the firing pin i2.

While a semi-solid 01- semi-liquid substance may be substituted'for a true liquid in the liquid chamber, suchinaterialin operation functionsas a liquid. Therefore, the "term as herein used is intended to include such semi-solids or sem liquids. Furthermore, well temperatures are re ltiv high, often above the boiling of wa so that substances para? actually solid at ordinal the chamber, being poure Use of such normally solid Si added safety feature inasmuch mechanism can not operate until the material himelted or materially soften by the ir-eatoi t well. Ago). id. as herein 2 intended to apply to such normally solid-mater al which ircomes sufficiently liquid under operating condition.

various changes and alternate arrangements may be made within thescope of the appended claims, in which it is'myintcntion to rlaim novelty inherent in t e invention...v

I claim: I

l. A firing, mechanism for gun perforat 'is, comprising: a detonetor; a firing pin adapted engage said detonator; a firing plung definin-g cylinders forsaid pin and p11. r, wl rein said pin and plunger form pistons for licui and a liquid chamber connecting said c and means for striking said plun movement of said plunger trans liquid, if any,'in said liquid chamhe liquid causes uid in provides as the firgun per- .liquids;

mechanism attached to said line and supporting said well tool, comprising: a body member defin ing a liquid chamber; a pair of liquid piston and cylinder means communicating with said cylinder, one of said pistons forming a firing pin positioned for engagement with a detonator, the other of said pistons forming a firing plunger protruding from said body member; and a go-devil for striking said firing plunger.

4. The combination with an explosively operated well tool and a suspension line, of a firing mechanism attached to said line and supporting said well tool, comprising: a body member defining a liquid chamber; a pair of liquid piston and cylinder means communicating with said cylinder, one or" said pistons forming a firing pin positioned for engagement with a detonator, the other of said pistons forming a firing plunger protruding from said body member; a go-devil for striking said firing plunger; drain ports communicating with said chamber, and a collar slidable on said body member from a position covering said ports to a position exposing said ports; and means engageable with a surrounding casing for so moving said collar when said firing mechanism is raised in the well bore.

5. A firing mechanism for gun perforators, comprising: a firing pin; a firing plunger; an arming device for operatively connecting said pin and plunger, including means defining a chamber communicating with said pin and piston; and a liquid filling said chamber to transmit movement of said plunger to said pin.

6. A firing mechanism for gun perforators, comprising: a firing pin; a firing plunger; an arming device for operatively connecting said pin and plunger, including means defining a chamber communicating with said pin and piston; a liquid filling said chamber; and means for draining said chamber of its liquid to render said plunger ineffective.

7. A tiring mechanism for gun perforators, comprising: a cartridge chamber; a cartridge including a detonator; a seal member covering said cartridge to exclude liquids; a firing pin positioned ad acent said seal member and adapted to be driven into said seal member to set on said detonator; a firing plunger; and a liquid column operatively connecting said plunger and firing pin.

8. A firing mechanism for gun perforators, comprising; a cartridge chamber; a cartridge including a detonator positioned in said chamber; a seal member covering said cartridge to exclude a firing pin positioned ad acent said seal member and adapted to be driven into said seal member to set on said detonator; a hung plunger; and means defining a liquid chamber communicating with said pin and plunger, said liquid chamber adapted, when said firing mechanism is submerged in a liquid, to fill with said liquid and whereby the liquid iorms a fluid, connection between said pin and plunger.

9. A tiring mechanism ior gun perforators, comprising; a cartridge chamber; a cartridge incluuing a detonatoi' positioned in said chamber; a seal member covering said cartridge to exclude liquids; a nring pin positioned adiacent said seal member and adapted to be driven into said seal member to set on said detonator; a firing plunger; means defining a liquid chamber communieating with said pin and plunger, said liquid chamber adapted, when said firing mechanism is submerged in a liquid, to fill with said liquid and whereby the 1iquid forms a fiuid connection between said pin and plunger; and means for draining said chamber whereby said pin andplunger are inoperatively associated when said firing mechanism is not submerged in water.

10. A firing mechanism for gun perforators, comprising: a cartridge chamber; a cartridge including a detonator positioned in said chamber; a seal member covering said cartridge to exclude liquids; a firing pin positioned adjacent said seal member and adapted to be driven into said seal member to set off said detonator; a firing plunger; means defining a liquid chamber communicating with said pin and plunger, said liquid chamber adapted, when said firing mechanism is submerged in a liquid, to fill with said liquid whereby the liquid forms a fluid connection between said pin and plunger; a by-pass port communicating with said liquid chamber; and a closure, including means engageable with a surrounding casing to restrain said closure over said by-pass port during downward movement of the firing mechanism and to move said closure clear of said ports during upward movement of the firing mechanism.

11. A firing mechanism for gun perforators, comprising: a cartridge chamber; a cartridge including a detonator positioned in said chamber; a seal member covering said cartridge to exclude liquids; a firing pin positioned adjacent said seal member and adapted to be driven into said seal member to set off said detonator; a firing plunger; means defining a liquid chamber communieating with said pin and plunger, and also defining ports of suificient area. to dissipate substantially any force transmitted to liquid in said chamber by said firing plunger; a closure for said ports adapted, wnen closing said ports, to cause the force of said firing plunger to be transmitted through liquid contained in said chamber to said firing pin; and means engageable with a surrounding casing to move said closure clear of said ports.

12. A firing mechanism for gun periorators, comprising: a firing pin; a firing plunger; an arming device for operatively connecting said pin and plunger, including means defining a chamber communicating with said pin and piston, and a normally solid material having the characteristics of a liquid at the temperatures encountered in a well bore and filling said chamber to transmit movement or" saidplunger to said pin.

13. A firing mechanism for gun perforators, comprising: a firing pin; a firing piunger; an arming device tor operatively connecting said pin and plunger, including means deiining a chamber communicating with said pin and piston, a normally solid material having the characteristics of a liquid at the temperatures encountered in a well bore and filling said chamber to transmit movement 01' said plunger to said pin, said chamber having a by-pass port and a closure for said port; and means engageable with a surrounding casing to move said closure clear of said by-pass port when said firing mechanism is raised in a well bore.

LLQYD SPENCER, 

